Right in the middle of the Grand Prix weekend in Formula 1 At the Sepang circuit, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc swapped their usual Ferrari race cars for two other Italian cars. The two Scuderia drivers were spotted in Malaysia driving’Alfa Romeo Giulia, during which they joined the circuit, among other things.
The images released by Alfa Romeo Malaysia show two Giulia models in distinctly different colors. Charles Leclerc is pictured in a red Alfa Rosso model, while Lewis Hamilton is seen driving a Misano Blue Giulia. This appearance certainly didn’t go unnoticed, given the long-standing ties between Ferrari and Alfa Romeo.
From Italy to Malaysia in an Alfa Romeo
Seeing Ferrari drivers associated with Alfa Romeo isn’t entirely unusual, especially when they’re in Italy. The scene is, however, more surprising several thousand kilometers away, in Malaysia. Alfa Romeo Malaysia took the opportunity to highlight this historic connection. Scuderia Ferrari was founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, after he himself had raced for Alfa Romeo. During the 1930s, Scuderia fielded the Milan-based brand’s Grand Prix cars. Nearly a century later, it is the two Ferrari drivers who find themselves behind the wheel of two Alfa Romeos.
This event takes place against a unique backdrop, as Formula 1 returns to Sepang this weekend. Here’s a little detail: the race is officially called the Bahrain Grand Prix, even though it’s being held in Malaysia on an exceptional basis, as Bahrain is funding the event following the cancellation of its own Grand Prix.
A great showcase for Alfa Romeo's return to Malaysia
The choice of the Giulia is all the more significant given that Alfa Romeo has just made its official return to the Malaysian market. After more than a decade of absence, the Italian brand relaunched its operations there in November 2025 with two models: the Giulia and Stelvio.
The Giulia driven by Hamilton and Leclerc is therefore one of the main ambassadors for this comeback. In its locally marketed Veloce version, it features a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 280 ch and 400 Nm, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. Alfa Romeo reports a top speed limited to 240 km/h. The sedan also retains several features particularly dear to the brand: a weight distribution close to 50:50, a carbon-fiber driveshaft, a Q2 limited-slip differential, and Alfa Link suspension.
By symbolically entrusting its two Giulia cars to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during this Formula 1 weekend, Alfa Romeo Malaysia is securing some particularly welcome exposure just a few months after its return to the country. And the image sums up the shared history of the two manufacturers quite well: two Ferrari drivers, two Alfa Romeos, and—nearly a century later—motor racing still serves as the common thread.
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